Letters to the Editor: Friday, November 8, 2013

Why didn’t you vote in the city election? ... If space allows, LHS will take stray cats

Why didn’t you vote in the city election?

To the editor,What’s your excuse? I am talking to the 11,887 registered voters who did not vote in Tuesday’s Adrian city election.

Where were you? If you were physically not able to get the the polling place, there is always absentee balloting. If you were going to be out of town, there is always absentee balloting.

Is it because we have only one polling place in the city, and it was too much bother to get to the fairgrounds? I am sure the city is always open to suggestions as to how to get more registered voters to the polls.

The end result is that we, the citizens of Adrian, are allowing a minority to govern us. Time will tell what the results of this will be. I hope we don’t have to listen to complaints about what happens.

My congratulations to Jim Berryman and the new commission members. I did vote, and I will be keeping an eye on you.

Lois CurtisAdrian

If space allows, LHS will take stray cats

To the editor,In recent weeks, the issue of a community cat problem was raised at the Tecumseh City Council meeting. Per The Daily Telegram, County Commissioner David Stimson stated that “there is no facility that will take them. The Humane Society doesn’t take them, and veterinarians and animal shelters in the area aren’t taking them either.”

The Lenawee Humane Society will take in stray cats when there is room available at the shelter. However, due to a very high number of stray cats and kittens this year, surrenders are done by appointment as room becomes available. Once surrendered, cats and kittens will be given a medical exam, spayed or neutered and microchipped before becoming available for adoption.

Feral cat colonies are an issue nationwide, not just in Lenawee County. According to the ASPCA, the number of feral cats in the U.S. is estimated to be in the tens of millions. Feral cats are different from stray cats in that feral cats are born in the wild and most are too fearful to be handled by humans. Feral cats are typically not adoptable, but can live full, healthy lives outdoors. Kittens can be adoptable if socialized early on. Stray cats, on the other hand, are pets that have been lost or abandoned. These cats are generally tame and comfortable around people.While there are a variety of methods for communities to address feral cats, the Lenawee Humane Society believes that Trap-Neuter-Release (TNR) programs are the most humane and effective method to manage feral cat colonies. Eradication or relocation programs are ineffective. Cats choose to reside in locations for two reasons: there is a food source and shelter. When cats are removed from a location, new cats move in or survivors breed to capacity (Alley Cat Allies). While the LHS currently does not have a TNR program, it is on our list of programs to develop as funds and resources become available.